Chapter 546

He He Jiaqing pressed against the wall, eyes fixed on the corner, guarding against a surprise attack and ready to strike first himself.

After several seconds of stalemate, He He Jiaqing realized his tactic was flawed.

The opponent was so fast—he was likely a Traveler Cultivator. Standing with his back to the wall to guard against a Traveler was clearly pointless.

This He He Jiaqing knew nothing about Li Qi; he could easily handle ground-level cultivators but lacked experience against sky-level opponents.

By the time he recognized the problem, Li Li Banfeng had already passed through the wall with Unimpeded Passage and stood before He He Jiaqing.

Li Li Banfeng swung his sickle down at He He Jiaqing's face, while at the same time, the projector jumped out of his pocket and took up position.

He He Jiaqing couldn't afford to care about the projector—he had to dodge the sickle and keep his gaze locked, fearing Li Li Banfeng might vanish and use Horse-Viewing-Flowers.

The Thief Cultivator's reaction speed in close quarters was surprisingly fast—he ducked under the sickle and jabbed his spiked ring at Li Li Banfeng's throat.

In close combat between cultivators of similar realm, the key to victory lies in who seizes the first move.

Li Li Banfeng dodged the thrust; He He Jiaqing swept his wrist sideways, aiming to slit Li Li Banfeng's throat. Now it was his turn to strike—he should press forward relentlessly, giving Li Li Banfeng no chance to breathe.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind brushed past his ear.

He He Jiaqing dodged frantically—but still took a slash to his back.

Does the opponent have an ally?

Actually, Li Li Banfeng had no ally—just now, it was his shadow that had slashed with Tang Dao.

Li Li Banfeng had used the Technique of Solitary Shadow; his shadow could act independently, preventing Li Li Banfeng from using techniques, so he chose to fight with weapons.

But He He Jiaqing was terrified—facing an opponent of equal realm, and now outnumbered, he immediately changed tactics, relying on his nimble feet to circle behind Li Li Banfeng.

Circling behind was a good move—it could let him escape quickly, leaving Li Li Banfeng's vision unable to lock onto him.

It could also let him strike from behind, buying himself precious time.

Li Li Banfeng saw He He Jiaqing's intent and kept shifting his steps, denying him any opening to attack from behind.

Logically, once you see the opponent is prepared, you should switch tactics—but this He He Jiaqing was stubborn, like following a rigid program, determined to circle behind Li Li Banfeng.

Seeing He He Jiaqing's persistence, Li Li Banfeng circled a few steps, then pulled a key from his pocket.

You want to circle so badly? Fine, let you circle.

Li Li Banfeng twisted his wrist behind his back and opened the door of the Portable Dwelling.

Seeing Li Li Banfeng's step pause slightly, He He Jiaqing seized the chance, slipped behind him, and stepped through the door into the Portable Dwelling.

Among all opponents Li Li Banfeng had faced, many had come to visit—but this one was the most eager.

Didn't He He Jiaqing see the door right in front of him?

He truly didn't see it—the projector had earlier obscured both their forms and altered part of the surroundings to create hidden combat conditions for Li Li Banfeng.

Once inside the Portable Dwelling's door, He He Jiaqing froze. The phonograph froze. Hong Ying froze too.

He He Jiaqing didn't know where he was, or why he had entered this room.

He had walked this street twice—he knew it fairly well. When had a room appeared beside the café at this corner?

The phonograph studied He He Jiaqing for a moment and found him vaguely familiar.

She had seen his photo in newspapers before—but it was an old one, showing a younger, more naive face.

The phonograph asked: "Are you my husband's friend?"

He He Jiaqing didn't know the phonograph's origin, but he sensed she was no ordinary being—he bowed and said:

"May I ask your husband's name?"

The phonograph replied: "He's Li Qi. Do you know him?"

Li Qi? Of course he knew him—he was a key figure. According to He He Haiqin's description, Li Qi was Li Li Banfeng, and Li Li Banfeng was the holder of the Xiao Xuan Sheng Did Honglian.

But that was in the past—the Did Honglian had been taken by the Waizhou, and now its whereabouts were unknown.

He He Haiqin had said He He Jiaqing had a grudge against Li Li Banfeng. Should he now admit his identity?

He He Jiaqing was still hesitating when the phonograph ordered Hong Ying: "Go bring that bitch Did Honglian here. Tell her her old lover has arrived."

A woman of indescribable figure and utterly unnameable beauty carried Did Honglian forward.

Xiao Xuan Sheng Did Honglian!

He He Jiaqing was ecstatic!

He had come to the right place!

He He Jiaqing bowed and said: "Sister-in-law, I'm Li Qi's brother. I've come today only to borrow the Did Honglian."

The phonograph laughed: "Did Honglian, your old lover's come to take you home."

Xiao Xuan Sheng Did Honglian gently unfurled her lotus leaves, as if studying He He Jiaqing.

She spoke: "He Jiaqing, do you remember Song Song Laoshi?"

Song Song Laoshi?

He He Haiqin had never mentioned her.

"Of course I remember," He He Jiaqing improvised, "She was my master—I could never forget."

Did Honglian asked: "Have you met your master's wife?"

"Once," He He Jiaqing continued lying, "My mistress treated me very well."

Did Honglian told the phonograph: "This isn't He He Jiaqing."

"He He Jiaqing" blurted: "What are you talking about?"

The phonograph laughed: "Sister, look closely—if this isn't He He Jiaqing, he becomes our dinner."

Did Honglian smiled: "You say that? Even if he were He He Jiaqing, once he enters this room, isn't he already our dinner? Song Song Laoshi is a young woman—where's the 'mistress'?"

The phonograph roared: "I knew that 'master' was a slut!"

"He He Jiaqing" sensed something was wrong and turned to flee.

He tugged at the door for a long time—but it wouldn't budge.

The phonograph was still furious, muttering: "I knew that Song was no ordinary woman. Just her talent alone could make that madman lose his soul. Tell me—was she beautiful?"

Did Honglian thought: "It depends on how you compare. Compared to your appearance before death, she couldn't match you. But compared to your current form—"

The phonograph's voice trembled: "What's wrong with my current form? Didn't that madman say he didn't mind?"

Hong Ying urged: "Shao Wan, don't be angry. Don't listen to Did Honglian's gossip!"

"He He Jiaqing" paused, wondering if he'd overreacted—no one here seemed to care about him.

Since no one cared, he needn't be polite. "He He Jiaqing" glanced around and spotted two more doors—one opposite, one along the wall.

He locked onto the direction, rushed forward, grabbed Did Honglian with his left hand, and used his fan to push open the second door.

Creak.

The door opened.

Bang!

The fan fell to the ground.

"He He Jiaqing" was stunned—how could the fan have fallen?

It was his life—this fan never left his hand.

He He Jiaqing looked at his bare wrist and finally understood—the fan wasn't out of his hand; his hand was on the floor.

Hong Ying had chopped off "He He Jiaqing"'s right hand, picked up the fan, removed the palm, and examined it closely: "What kind of treasure is this? Why do you always cling to it?"

"He He Jiaqing" tried to snatch the fan back, but Hong Ying stepped lightly backward into the second room and beckoned: "I'll walk backward. If you can catch me, I'll return the fan!"

"He He Jiaqing," enduring agonizing pain, chased desperately—Hong Ying retreated from the second room into the third.

Did Honglian shouted: "Bitch, stop playing around—save me first!"

Hong Ying laughed: "Why save you? This man looks so much like your lover. While your husband's away, you two should enjoy yourselves."

As she chatted, Hong Ying kept retreating. "He He Jiaqing" used all his strength—but still couldn't catch her.

They ran all the way to the eighth room. Seeing Hong Ying slow down, "He He Jiaqing" thought he could finally catch her.

He gathered all his strength, lunged forward—and slipped, crashing to the floor.

The fall was severe—he couldn't rise for a long time. Did Honglian was taken from him.

A voice echoed from the room: "This puddle was spilled perfectly."

The eighth room housed a Calculation Cultivator, subdued by Hong Ying, now at her command.

In situations like this, when Hong Ying was fighting, she didn't even need to call him—he would automatically assist.

He had calculated Hong Ying's stride and pace, and "He He Jiaqing"'s stride and pace, then adjusted the furniture in the eighth room to make "He He Jiaqing" step into the puddle.

Hong Ying held the Did Honglian and the fan, continuing to tease "He He Jiaqing": "The fan's in my hand, your lover's in my hand—keep chasing! It's hard to find a little fun."

With that, Hong Ying left the eighth room and entered the seventh.

"He He Jiaqing" could see the vast gap between himself and this indescribable woman.

She could kill him anytime—she was letting him live only for amusement.

To die quickly, he could just stop chasing.

But the fan was in her hand.

The logic was clear—but understanding it and accepting it were two different things. Any living thing would cling to life.

"He He Jiaqing" reached the seventh room. Hong Ying still wanted to toy with him—when suddenly the phonograph shouted: "Bitch, are you done playing? Bring Did Honglian back—I have questions for her!"

Judging by the tone, she wanted to ask about Song Song Laoshi. Shao Wan had flown into such a rage that Hong Ying dared not delay—she hurried back to the main room with Did Honglian.

"He He Jiaqing" watched helplessly as Hong Ying walked farther away, the fan grew more distant, and his body grew increasingly numb.

He He Jiaqing watched helplessly as Xiang Xiang Hongying walked farther away, the fan moving farther from him, his body growing increasingly sluggish.

Can't move anymore.

Is that really all?

He He Jiaqing's thoughts came to a standstill.

Xiang Xiang Hongying brought Did Honglian close to the phonograph, which growled: "Tell me—what dealings did that slut Song have with your master?"

Did Honglian replied: "She's the teacher of Li Li Banfeng and He He Jiaqing. She's clean with He He Jiaqing, but what she had with Li Li Banfeng—I can't say. I didn't even know that madman back then."

"Was that man just now truly not He He Jiaqing?" the phonograph demanded sharply.

Seeing the phonograph's fury, Did Honglian grew fearful: "Would I lie to you? He didn't even know if Song Song Laoshi was male or female—he's definitely not the real one."

"Who knows what secret glances you two exchanged? Xue Yingying, go bring that man here—I'll question him myself!"

Xiang Xiang Hongying grabbed her fan and hurried to find "He He Jiaqing," only to discover the man lying motionless in Room Seven.

"Shao Wan, what's happened to him—" Xiang Xiang Hongying dared not act rashly; she sensed something was wrong with "He He Jiaqing,"

and she also sensed Zhao Xiao's emotions were off.

Back in the army, whenever Zhao Xiao flew into a real rage, everyone else had to tread with extreme caution.

"Useless! I told you to bring him over—how hard can that be?" Zhao Xiao entered Room Seven and struck Xiang Xiang Hongying with a fan, hard enough to make her rub the pain for a long while.

As the fan drew closer to "He He Jiaqing," after a moment, he began to stir slightly.

His body rose and fell—he seemed to be breathing again.

The motion grew stronger, as if it were more than just breathing.

The phonograph stared in shock: "What's going on?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying watched a moment, then quickly fetched an iron chain and wrapped it tightly around "He He Jiaqing": "Bad! This man's about to explode!"

"Explode?" The phonograph didn't understand why he'd explode.

Xiang Xiang Hongying tightened the chain: "I won't be wrong—this man's about to explode, just like someone who's been hit by Zou Ma Zouma Guanhua. Ask your questions fast—he won't last long."

The phonograph asked: "What's your name?"

"He He Jiaqing" answered: "I'm Qiu Qiu Daoyu."

The phonograph asked again: "Why are you impersonating He He Jiaqing?"

"To become a Clan Member."

"Are you from Neizhou?"

"Yes. Now I am a Clan Member."

Zhao Xiao found the man's words hard to believe—Neizhou people weren't this size; they were much larger than people from Like Puluozhou.

"How did you change your appearance?"

"By burning in the furnace."

He didn't just change his appearance—he had to learn He He Jiaqing's habits and mannerisms.

"How did you learn about He He Jiaqing's past?"

"He He Jiaqing's father, He He Haiqin, taught me everything, bit by bit."

That matched—he was from Neizhou.

"What task did your clan give you?"

"To use He He Jiaqing's identity and seize the Bai Lu Men."

"Where is He He Jiaqing now?"

"I don't know—I couldn't find him—" Qiu Qiu Daoyu's voice grew weaker.

"How many of your clan changed their appearances?"

"A hundred entered the furnace with me. All died. Only I survived—I'm the strongest, my body the hardest…"

Clink-clink-clink~

The iron chain rattled. Xiang Xiang Hongying shouted: "Shao Wan, I can't hold on! He's about to explode—let's get out!"

Zhao Xiao said: "Let him explode. Why should we run?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying replied: "This force is different—it'll be violent. It might hurt us. Leave him here. Let the Old Master deal with him."

Just as they turned to leave, a voice came from Room Seven: "No—you can't let him explode here!"

The passenger in Room Seven spoke up, warning Zhao Xiao: "If he explodes here, this room is finished. He's an exploding soul, not a body. Eat his soul—he won't explode."

Xiang Xiang Hongying refused: "If you eat him and he explodes inside you, what then?"

The phonograph scolded: "Nonsense! How could he explode inside your belly? Step back."

Xiang Xiang Hongying retreated, watching as Qiu Qiu Daoyu's body slowly swelled.

The phonograph stuck two needles into Qiu Qiu Daoyu's body and all three horns spewed steam.

Soon, Qiu Qiu Daoyu's swelling stopped, and the phonograph withdrew the needles.

"Shao Wan, how's it going?" Xiang Xiang Hongying stepped closer, watching anxiously.

The phonograph made no sound—only a clatter came from the front cabinet.

"Shao Wan, say something! Don't scare me—Shao Wan—" Xiang Xiang Hongying fumbled for the phonograph, her voice trembling.

Blrrp~

"Don't touch my belly!" The phonograph shoved Xiang Xiang Hongying away and paced twice around Room Seven.

"Shao Wan, what's wrong—"

"Gurrrr—glug-glug-glug—" The phonograph belched, then sighed in delight: "This grilled knifefish is even tastier than a toad!"

Xiang Xiang Hongying exhaled deeply and sat on the chair: "Shao Wan, you nearly scared me to death!"

"No scare, no scare. Let's go eat meat—it's truly from Neizhou!"

Xiang Xiang Hongying stared at the bloated, unrecognizable corpse: "Really? Let me taste it."

"Don't eat it all—we've got family out fighting with the master. Save some for them, and leave some for this brother in Room Seven."

Xiang Xiang Hongying bit into the flesh and praised: "Better than that toad. Brother in Room Seven—what's your name?"

The room replied: "If I knew my name, would I be living like this—neither man nor ghost?"

The phonograph said: "You have sharp eyes—you sensed the source of the explosion. You must be a Kui Xiu."

"I suppose so. So much time has passed—I've forgotten what sect I belonged to."

The phonograph chuckled: "Forgetfulness doesn't matter. Take your time remembering. There's plenty of time. Look out for each other. Xue Yingying—don't forget to save a portion for Room Eight."

Xiang Xiang Hongying handled the meat distribution. The phonograph picked up Qiu Qiu Daoyu's fan: "This craftsmanship is extraordinary—there's hidden magic here."

"There really is magic," Xiang Xiang Hongying looked up at the phonograph. "Shao Wan, I think my lips feel strange."

"Nonsense. You don't even have lips."

"It feels like I do now."

The phonograph turned its large horn and examined closely: "Wait—you're right—"

Where there had been only two eyes on the spearhead, a mouth now appeared beneath them.

The phonograph marveled: "Xue Yingying, you've just opened a new business!"

"You're really giving me this land?" Chu Er didn't believe it—she couldn't believe Li Qi would be so kind to her.

"I've put it right before you—of course it's yours. The first person I thought of was you. No one else is more suitable."

"Say that last sentence again."

Li Li Banfeng thought Chu Er hadn't heard clearly and slowed his speech: "No one else is more suitable."

"I mean the one before that. Say it again."

"The first person I thought of was you."

Chu Er stared at Li Li Banfeng, sniffled, her lips trembling for a moment—then she burst into tears.

"Why are you crying?" Li Li Banfeng was puzzled.

Chu Er wiped her tears: "After knowing you so long, this is the first time you've said you thought of me."

Thought of me?

Isn't that different from thinking of you?

Li Li Banfeng was about to correct his phrasing when Chu Er held up two land deeds: "If I hold this deed, won't I become the Land God? If I reclaim all the wasteland, won't I become the true Land God of this land?"

"Exactly!" Li Li Banfeng nodded. "Do you know how many people want this land? It's a once-in-a-millennium chance!"

"I know you're good to me, and I'm truly good to you," Chu Er lowered her head, blushing. "But I don't know if I have the ability—I'm afraid I can't hold onto this land."

"What's to fear? My second aunt's got your back!"

"Even Old Ku can't protect me forever. By the way—didn't He He Jiaqing just come to see me? Wasn't it about this land?"

"Impossible," Li Li Banfeng shook his head. "Only I and Qiu Qiu Luoye knew I was giving this land to you. He He Jiaqing couldn't have heard."

"Besides—I think that man wasn't He He Jiaqing."

Chu Er said: "Why not? I've known him since childhood—he's always been cruel. I'm sure it's him."

Li Li Banfeng said: "Think carefully—if He He Jiaqing truly wanted Bai Lu Men, would he come himself? He has many businesses, all run by Shen Shen Rongqing and Duan Duan Shuqun. When has he ever shown his face?"

"The Waizhou Society is still hunting him. Would he dare come to your door to seize your business? If the Guanfang Hall finds out, Liao Liao Zihui will send men to arrest him. Even if he could fight them off, it's far too risky."

Chu Er nodded: "Brother Qi is right. Now I think about it—he didn't act like He He Jiaqing."

"Hss!" Xiang Xiang Fenglan sucked in a sharp breath.

Just now she said it was him—now she says it isn't.

That phrase "Brother Qi is right"—it didn't sound like something Chu Er would say.

"Sister Xiang, go check on Old Yang and Wen Hongyan," Chu Er glared at Xiang Xiang Fenglan. "I need to talk with Brother Qi."

Xiang Xiang Fenglan sneered: "Talk? Or do something? Can't I just watch?"

Li Li Banfeng stood up: "Everything's said. Hurry and bury the deeds, claim the land. You're from a wealthy family—you know what to do."

With that, Li Li Banfeng turned to leave.

Chu Er, reluctant to let him go, tugged at Li Li Banfeng's sleeve: "You must come visit me often—no one in this world misses you more than I do."

Xiang Xiang Fenglan lowered her head: "Not necessarily. I heard Jiang Jiang Mengting is ill—she's missed two singing sessions in a row. If you don't go see her, she might not make it."

"I'll go check on Jiang Jiang Mengting," Li Li Banfeng said, leaving the Chu family mansion.

Chu Er glared at Xiang Xiang Fenglan like a hungry wolf: "You bitch, how do you know Jiang Jiang Mengting is ill? Did Ma Ma Junyang tell you? I'll tell Madam about this right away!"

Li Li Banfeng went to Xiaoyao Wud. Ma Ma Junyang was chatting with two young women; seeing Li Li Banfeng arrive, he quickly introduced them: "Old Seven, these are two new friends I've made—one is A Chun, the other is A Se."

Both women carried green flames—clearly not of the living world.

But Li Li Banfeng wasn't surprised; to Ma Ma Junyang, the divide between man and ghost was trivial.

He went to see Jiang Jiang Mengting. She was indeed ill, her appearance gaunt and broken.

Li Li Banfeng brought her water and medicine, tending to her with care.

The two women continued pouring out their sorrows to Ma Ma Junyang.

A Se sighed softly: "Five Master, our lives are bitter—we serve as servants to Xiu, and even the slightest mistake brings punishment. How much longer must we endure this?"

Ma Ma Junyang's expression turned serious: "Don't worry, ladies. Now that you've met Ma Ma Junyang, your suffering ends today. Tomorrow, I'll speak to your master—he'll write you a deed transferring you both to me."

A Se gripped Ma Ma Junyang's hand: "Five Master, you're truly a good man!"

A Chun also took hold of Ma Ma Junyang's hand: "Five Master is indeed kind—but why did we come here?"

A Se replied calmly: "Need you ask? We came specially to visit Five Master."

A Chun blinked: "Really?"

A Se fell silent for a moment: "Well—"

A Chun glanced at Ma Ma Junyang: "Five Master, wasn't the man who just passed by Li Qi?"

Li Li Banfeng studied A Se's painting and clearly saw the entire process of Sun Sun Tiecheng interrogating the Neizhou man Huang Huang Zenan.

Paint cultivators aren't projectors, and A Se lacked Mu Yuejuan's mastery—the image wasn't lifelike, but the meaning was unmistakable.

A Chun added: "Lord Li, Lord Sun warned you to be extremely cautious—he specifically mentioned Zhang Zhang Gunli's abacus. He said it's unusual, and he's sent our master to Heishipo to study it with Tang Shi."

Li Li Banfeng recalled the details of his battle with He He Jiaqing.

He He Jiaqing had held a folding fan the entire time—it never functioned as a weapon or magic treasure.

Then why did he carry it?

Could it serve the same purpose as the abacus?

At Heishipo, a merchant fretted over land—he'd bought a plot too small for his factory; the machinery wouldn't fit.

On a friend's recommendation, he hired an experienced engineer: a tall, burly man in overalls and a hard hat, his face covered in beard, wearing glasses that clashed with his appearance.

He looked ordinary—but he was none other than Tang Shi, the local deity of Heishipo.

He held multiple identities in Heishipo: skilled engineer was just one; he was also a bricklayer, laborer, machinist, cook, newspaper editor, and magazine model.

Tang Shi studied the blueprints for a long time, then shook his head.

The factory floor was simply too small.

Steam engines were the unchanging power source of Like Puluozhou; their complex steam-water systems made them bulky, dooming this factory to never house all the equipment.

The size issue was an insurmountable barrier. Tang Shi had researched it extensively—but gained little.

The merchant had no choice but to pay more for more land.

As Tang Shi revised the plans, he twirled his pencil twice, then tucked it behind his ear.

He left the factory and walked to the wall: "Elder, you called for me?"

Gui Gui Jianchou smiled: "Don't call me Elder—we don't need such formalities."

"We?" Tang Shi didn't feel he and Gui Gui Jianchou shared such closeness. "What do you want?"

Gui Gui Jianchou pulled out the abacus and handed it to Tang Shi: "Take a look—what is this thing?"

Tang Shi took the abacus, gave it a gentle shake, watching the beads' movement. His gaze grew deeper.

After two full hours of careful observation, he moved six beads.

The other beads followed.

Gui Gui Jianchou knew nothing of engineering—he didn't understand its mechanism.

Ghost servant Tie praised: "He figured it out! He really figured it out!"

Tang Shi shook his head: "I only saw the mechanism—not the power source. This is a treasure—rare indeed."

"Indeed a treasure. Neizhou's engineering is formidable," Leaving Suishenju murmured, turning to Changji: "Girl, pull up the third fan rib—gently, don't use force."

Changji lifted the fan rib slightly.

Hss!

A sharp whistle rang out.

A thin stream of white mist shot forth.

Changji gasped: "This fan… is a steam engine?"

"Precisely," Leaving Suishenju smiled. "Girl, I finally understand what blood the Neizhou people carry—no wonder they're all so large."